Interlace
Interlace is an ongoing painting series that merges my interests in early modern expressionist painting, printmaking techniques and historical pattern designs found in the applied arts.
This work pays homage to the labor-intensive skills, complex designs and enduring traditions of women’s handwork: lace making, embroidery, textiles and other applied arts. These pragmatic art forms have often been devalued under the high art /craft distinction and have not been given their rightful place as art.
Hand drawn pattern designs based on historical modes of design are cut into stencils and carved into wood blocks. These patterns are then applied to a variety of painting supports with printmaking repetition techniques that are layered with/within expressive still life, landscape and figurative painting.
This work satisfies my desire to study and represent the historical traditions of women's handwork, the early modern traditions of expressive figurative drawing and painting and the beauty of decoration in contemporary painting.